The Certificate of Domestic and Family Violence course isn’t just about learning or understanding. It’s about empathy, advocacy, and standing next to those who have experienced pain you and I could never imagine.

Words matter. In this course, I learnt language that uplifts, validates, and empowers. I learnt how to speak without judgement and how to offer support instead of blame. I learnt that sometimes all a victim needs to hear to feel heard, believed and safe, is: “You are not alone.”

I stepped into the shoes of victims, feeling the weight of fear, shame, and shattered trust. But I also learnt to walk beside them. I learnt how to actively listen, to validate their feelings and their experiences, and how to connect them to resources.